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What was Konrad Lorenz's greatest contribution to the study of human behavior?

A) Ethology
B) Eugenics
C) Phrenology
D) Sociobiology

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Konrad Lorenz's greatest contribution to the study of human behavior was in the field of Ethology, where he conducted pioneering research into animal behavior and its evolutionary implications for humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Konrad Lorenz's Greatest Contribution

Konrad Lorenz's greatest contribution to the study of human behavior was A) Ethology. Lorenz was a pioneer in the field of ethology, which is the scientific and objective study of animal behavior under natural conditions. He observed that certain behavioral patterns were innate and could be triggered by external stimuli. His work vastly expanded the understanding of animal behavior and provided insights into the evolutionary aspects of human behavior as well.

Ethology is distinct from other theories or fields such as eugenics, which was associated with improving genetic quality, or phrenology, an outdated field that tried to correlate personality with skull shapes. Additionally, sociobiology, which emerged later, attempts to explain social behavior in a biological context, including human behavior.

Lorenz's work still has a lasting impact on the field of behavioral biology, informing both our understanding of animal behavior and aspects of human psychology, including the nature versus nurture debate.

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